Spring cover



Sept. 23 1924. 1,509,244

C. A. LINCOLN ET AL.

Filed Nov. 27, 1923 litre/Z2 07: fiwm a.

ag/WM Patented Sept. 23, 1924.

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CARLISLE A. LINCOLN AND EDWIN F. ROSSMAN, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO THE HOUDAILLE COMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATIONOF DELAWARE.

SPRING COVER Application filed November 27, 1923. Serial No. 677,236.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that we, CARLIsLE A. LINCOLN and EDWIN F. ROSSMAN, citizens of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, and Buffalo, inthe county of Erie and State of New York, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring Covers; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to spring covers or boots and more particularly to improvements in devices of ,this character designed for enveloping the springs of motor vehicles.

It is well recognized in the art that a spring cover for motor vehicle springs must be capable of easy application without dis assem ling the spring or moving it in whole or part from the vehicle. In addition, it must be capable of fitting as wide a range of springs as possible and present a neat, well fitting appearance when in place and exclude dirt, water and moisture While at the same time substantially preventing escape of lubricant.

It is the object of the present invention to improve the appearance and fit of spring covers as well as the protecting and lubricating qualities while at the same time standardizing these covers in a manner to reduce the range of sizes and styles to a minimum.

With this object in view, the several features of the invention consist in certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, the advantages of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form'of the invention Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of a cover embodying the features of the invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the closure member adapted to seal the cover in the region of the spring clip, Fig. 3 is a side elevation with the closure member shown in section of a cover member with the closure applied thereto; and Fig. 4 is a detail illustrating the closure member and the manner in which it is applied over the clip bolt.

The spring cover shown in the illustrated embodiment of the invention extends lengthwise of the spring from a point adjacent the attachment of the spring to the axle to approximately the end of the spring adjacent the shackle. This cover is indicated at 10 consisting of a casing of flexible material conforming in outline to the cross section of the spring and secured along the bottom of the spring through hooks 12 and a lacing cord 14. As described in the copending application filed of even date herewith, this cover is cut at the desired points to provide openings for the reception ofthe upper ends of the spring clips 16 and the clip bolts 18, the provision of these openings permitting the cover to be wrapped tightly about the main body of the spring and presenting a neat, well fitting appearance. The openings in the cover surrounding the s ring cli s are closed by members indicated general y at 20, each of these members comprising a tubular portion 24 preferably of resilient material having oppositely extending flanges 26 which may be reinforced by ribs 27 and 28. Each of the flanges is provided with oppositely depending wings 30 and 32 which project down the sides of the spring and are designed to press inwardly and grip the cover at the sides. These wings may also be reinforced by ribs 34. In applying this closure member, it is merely.

necessary to open the tubular portion 24, as indicated in Fig. 4 until it can be passed over the clip bolt 18. Thereafter, when the closure member is released, the pressure of the tubular member beneath the bolt 18 locks the member firmly and rigidly in place and the tendency of thetubular member to return to the shape shown in Fig. 3 causes he flanges to press firmly against the top of the spring cover adjacent the opening. In a like manner the wings 30 and 32 press firmly against the side portions of the cover to hold the latter ,in place in the region of the spring clip. With this form of construction, the cover in its entirety may be readily applied without disassembling either the spring or the spring clips or any part thereof. After it is assembled, the component parts of the cover are permanently retained in place, although when desired the closure members and the cover may be readily removed Without disturbing or inj uring either of them.

Although in the illustrated embodiment of the invention the closure member is shown and described as constructed of resilient metal having suiflcient length and rigidity to hold the closure member in place and cause the flanges to bear firmly against the cover, it is understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the employment of resilient metal but contemplates the employment of other material, if such material may be satisfactorily used to carry out the purposes of the invention.

We claim 1. A spring cover comprising a flexible casing wrapped about the body of a spring and extending lengthwise thereof, the casing having an opening through which the upper end of a spring clip projects, and a resilient closure plate adapted to partially surround and grip the cross bolt of a spring clip and having oppositely extending flanged portions which yieldingly engage and press upon the casing adjacent the clip.

2. A spring cover comprising a flexible casing wrapped about the body of a spring and havin an opening for the projection of a spring 0 ip therethrough, a resilient closure member having a tubular portion with oppositely extending flanges, the tubular portion adapted to partially surround a cross bolt of a spring clip when in place and'designed to cause a yielding engagement of the flanges with adjacent portions of the flexible casing.

3. A spring cover comprising a resilient plate provided with a tubular portion and relatively "flat flanges extending therefrom, the plate being constructed and arranged to be distorted when applied to the cross bolt of a spring clip and to grip the underside of the cross bolt firmly when in place.

4. A spring cover comprising a resilient plate formed as an open sided tube with relatively flat flanges extending therefrom, the opening in the tube being normally narrower than the cross bolt of a spring clip, and means for preventing substantial distortion of the flanges.

5. A spring cover comprising a resilient plate formed as an open sided tube with relatively fiat flanges extending therefrom, the opening in the tube being normally narrower than the cross bolt of a'spring clip, and wings depending from opposite ends of the flanges and designed to yieldingly press against the sides of a spring.

6. A spring coverv comprising a flexible casing wrapped about the body of a spring and extending lengthwise thereof, the casing having an opening for the projection of the upper end of a spring clip therethrough, a resilient closure plate surrounding the upper end of the spring clip and closing the opening in the flexible casing, the closure plate being designed to engage and be locked to the spring clip by virtue of its inherent resiliency.

CARLISLE A. LINCOLN. EDWIN F. ROSSMAN. 

